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Tudor Dixon

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Tudor Dixon
Dixon in 2022
Born
Tudor Makary

(1977-05-05) May 5, 1977 (age 47)
EducationUniversity of Kentucky (BA)
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAaron Dixon
Children4
WebsiteOfficial website

Tudor Dixon (née Makary; born May 5, 1977) is an American politician, businesswoman and conservative political commentator.[1] A member of the Republican Party, Dixon was the party's nominee for Governor of Michigan in the 2022 election. She became the Michigan Republicans' first female nominee for governor.[2] Dixon lost the election to incumbent Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer by 10.6 points.

Early life and education

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Dixon grew up in Naperville, Illinois, the daughter of Vaughn Makary (died 2022) and Catherine Makary,[3] graduating from Naperville Central High School in 1995.[4] She is of partial Lebanese descent.[5]

Dixon received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in psychology from the University of Kentucky in 1998. In the 2000s, she moved to Muskegon in western Michigan.[6]

Career

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Before her career in media, Dixon was an executive at Michigan Steel Inc, her father's steel foundry.[7][8][9] In 2017, Dixon co-founded Lumen Student News, a now-defunct news site that produced conservative-leaning lessons for grade school students.[3]

Conservative commentator

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In 2018, she became a conservative commentator, anchoring the weekly program America's Voice Live on Real America's Voice, a streaming news and opinion channel.[3][10]

In March 2023, Premiere Networks launched The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network, with Dixon becoming their debut host.[11][12][13] She hosts “The Tudor Dixon Podcast”.[14]

2022 Michigan gubernatorial candidacy

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Main article: 2022 Michigan gubernatorial election
Dixon campaigning with Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin

In May 2021, Dixon announced her candidacy to become the Republican Party's nominee for Governor of Michigan in the 2022 election, seeking to challenge incumbent Democrat Gretchen Whitmer.[15] In a July 2022 Republican primary debate, Dixon pledged loyalty to Trump.[16] During the campaign, Dixon promoted Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the election.[17][18][19] In a May 2022 debate, when asked, "Do you believe Donald Trump legitimately won the 2020 election in Michigan?," Dixon responded, "Yes."[20] In subsequent media appearances, Dixon would not say whether she still held that belief.[20][21]

Trump endorsed Dixon after Trump's former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos wrote a letter to the former president, asking him to support Dixon, whom DeVos termed "the only one who can stand toe to toe with" Whitmer.[22] In August 2022, Dixon won the Republican primary.[23]

Dixon was endorsed by Trump,[24] the DeVos family,[25] former acting director of national intelligence Richard Grennell,[3] representative for Michigan's 2nd congressional district Bill Huizenga,[26] GOP House Conference Chair Elise Stefanik,[27] and former Democratic representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district Tulsi Gabbard.[28]

Dixon lost the general election.[29][30] On November 9, she called Whitmer to concede the race.[31]

Political positions

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Abortion

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Dixon supports a ban on all abortions except solely when necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman,[32] and would oppose any exceptions for rape or incest.[33] She has also said she does not believe the mother's health is a sufficient reason, saying that the "health of the mother and life of the mother are different."[34] In an interview, she described the example of a 14-year-girl raped by her uncle as a "perfect example" of an abortion that she believes should be prohibited, adding, "a life is a life for me."[35][36] In follow-up interviews, she has repeated her belief that there should be no exceptions for victims of rape and incest.[37] Following her run for election, Tudor Dixon hosted President Trump on her podcast where she said President Trump encouraged her to talk about abortion differently. “You came to me and you said, ‘You got to talk differently about abortion.’ And we could not pivot, we could not pivot in time,” Dixon said.[38]

In a Fox News interview, Dixon praised former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley for her answer on abortion during a GOP primary debate, where Haley argued Republicans should find "consensus" by focusing on banning late-term abortions, encouraging adoptions and fostering policies that protect doctors and nurses who don't want to perform abortions. "It was the perfect response," Dixon said.[39]

COVID-19

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In a June 2020 episode of her America's Voice Live show, Dixon said "our kids are not at risk" of catching COVID-19. When Whitmer brought this up during an October 2022 debate, Dixon denied making the comment and said "My own children have had COVID, so I would never say that."[40][41]

Following an October 2022 decision to include COVID-19 vaccines on the CDC's optional immunization recommendation schedule,[42] Dixon alleged that "liberal policymakers are pushing COVID-19 vaccines on our children and forcing parents out of the process". According to Michigan Advance, the state "does not have a vaccine mandate for COVID-19 and unvaccinated children are not precluded from attending school"; the media outlet further noted that "This is not the first time Dixon has touted misinformation about COVID-19 and children".[43][44]

In a June 2020 episode of her show, Dixon invoked a conspiracy theory that the COVID-19 pandemic was part of a plot that Democrats have planned for decades in order to topple the United States.[45]

Education

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Dixon plans to found Education Savings Accounts, which can hold funding for students to use on various options of schools.[46][47] In order to establish Education Savings Accounts, she has called for the repeal of the state's constitutional provision prohibiting public funding of private schools.[46]

Dixon proposed a piece of legislation that would ban teachers from talking about sexual orientation or gender identity with K-3 students.[48] She called for the resignation of the leader of Michigan's Department of Education due to LGBT training materials, stating that "our schools are laboratories for their social experiments and our children are their lab rats."[49]

In June 2022, Dixon spoke in support of a bill that would prohibit drag shows in public schools and permit parents and guardians to sue schools that host drag shows.[50] Critics highlighted the lack of evidence for such events in Michigan schools,[6] and they pointed out that drag shows were not defined in the bill.[50]

Equal rights

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Dixon has made public comments that have been condemned as racist by a journalist and an activist, such as defending the usage of blackface. She also described hijabs as "oppressive garments".[51] She thinks that Planned Parenthood aims to control the black population and that the George Floyd protests were part of a scheme by Democrats to take down Donald Trump.[52][53] During her campaign for governor, Dixon made a gender-based attack, suggesting her opponent is not a "real woman".[54]

Fiscal policy

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Dixon supports tax cuts, especially by ending the state's flat income tax of 4.25%,[55] which makes up one-sixth of the state's total budget.[56] Her plan to replace revenue lost by the tax cut relies on tourists from other states.[57] Dixon has vowed not to cut police funding.[58] Dixon has criticized Gretchen Whitmer for her order to shut down the Line 5 pipeline, arguing that the closing will only lead to an increase in energy prices.[59] She has also criticized Whitmer's policies regarding nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.[60] Dixon, whose grandmother died at a nursing home amid the pandemic,[61] accused Whitmer of being "ruled by fear".[60]

Voting policies

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Dixon supports the Michigan Voter ID Initiative.[62] If passed, the initiative would require governmental ID to vote, end the sending of unsolicited applications for absentee ballots, abolish ballot drop boxes, prohibit ballot harvesting, restrict election expenses to be publicly funded, and toughen punishments for election fraud.[63][64] Dixon also called for an audit of the 2020 election results in Michigan.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Dixon is married to Aaron William Dixon, a financial controller,[3] and they have four daughters.[65] She is a breast cancer survivor, having been diagnosed in 2015.[15][66]

Dixon is an evangelical Christian.[67]

Dixon considers acting a hobby and has appeared in low-budget horror films.[68]

References

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  1. ^ "Conservative commentator Tudor Dixon wins Michigan GOP governor primary". PBS NewsHour. 2 August 2022. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  2. ^ Mauger, Craig (2 August 2022). "GOP governor nominee Tudor Dixon: 'Epic battle' ahead with Whitmer". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e Egan, Paul (12 January 2022). "GOP candidate Tudor Dixon calls Whitmer 'Michigan's original insurrectionist' in video". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  4. ^ Zhao, Jeremy (2 December 2022). "Central Class of 1995 runs for Michigan Governor". Central Times. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  5. ^ Chinni, Dante (5 November 2022). "3 Michigan communities see upcoming election through different lenses". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  6. ^ a b Grieve, Jack (2 August 2022). "How did Tudor Dixon get into politics anyway? All about Michigan's Republican candidate for governor". Crain's Detroit Business. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  7. ^ Reardon, Doug (29 July 2022). "GOP Candidate Profile: Tudor Dixon; steel exec., conservative talk show host". FOX 17 West Michigan News (WXMI). Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  8. ^ Ulloa, Jazmine; Smith, Mitch (13 October 2022). "Five Takeaways From the Michigan Governor's Debate". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  9. ^ Robinson, Samuel (27 July 2022). "Trump endorsement looms over foggy gubernatorial primary". Axios. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  10. ^ Egan, Paul (20 May 2021). "Conservative TV commentator Tudor Dixon says she is running for Michigan governor". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  11. ^ Radio Ink (15 January 2024). "Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Debut 2024 Election Podcast". Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  12. ^ Inside Radio (21 March 2023). "The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network Launches". Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  13. ^ Clay & Buck (21 March 2023). "The Clay & Buck Podcast Network Debuts with The Tudor Dixon Podcast". Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  14. ^ "The Tudor Dixon Podcast on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. 19 July 2024. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  15. ^ a b Eggert, David (20 May 2021). "Conservative online host announces run for Michigan governor". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  16. ^ Gomez, Henry J. (6 July 2022). "Michigan GOP candidates for governor pledge loyalty to Trump in primary debate". NBC News. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  17. ^ Vigdor, Neil (1 August 2022). "Trump Pick for Michigan Governor, Tudor Dixon, Dodges Question About 2020". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  18. ^ Smith, Allan; Gomez, Henry J. (30 July 2022). "Behind Tudor Dixon's rise in the messy GOP primary for governor in Michigan". NBC News. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  19. ^ Bender, Michael C. (29 July 2022). "Trump Backs Tudor Dixon in Michigan's Chaotic G.O.P. Governor Primary". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 31 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  20. ^ a b Vigdor, Neil (1 August 2022). "Trump Pick for Michigan Governor, Tudor Dixon, Dodges Question About 2020". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  21. ^ Murray, Sara; Simon, Jeff (1 August 2022). "Trump's choice in Michigan gubernatorial primary faces criticism that she isn't 'MAGA' enough". CNN. Archived from the original on 2 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  22. ^ Corasaniti, Nick; Epstein, Reid J. (30 July 2022). "G.O.P. Feuding and Chaos Endanger the Party's Chances in Michigan". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  23. ^ Mauger, Craig. "Michigan Republican Party calls Tudor Dixon winner of primary race for governor". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  24. ^ Egan, Paul (29 July 2022). "Donald Trump endorses Tudor Dixon in Republican race for governor". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  25. ^ Egan, Paul (23 May 2022). "Michigan's DeVos family throws its support behind Tudor Dixon for governor". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 31 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  26. ^ Mauger, Craig (21 December 2021). "U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga endorses Tudor Dixon for Michigan governor". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  27. ^ EPAC (1 November 2022). "GOP House Conference Chair Elise Stefanik Endorses Tudor Dixon for Governor of Michigan". Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  28. ^ Jones, Kipp (20 October 2022). "Allegedly Pro-Choice Tulsi Gabbard Will Campaign for Tudor Dixon – Who Opposes Abortion for Rape Victims". Mediaite. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022 – via MSN.
  29. ^ NBC News (8 November 2022). "Michigan Governor Election Results 2022". Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  30. ^ Michigan Department of State. "Election results and data". Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  31. ^ Egan, Paul (9 November 2022). "Tudor Dixon concedes race for Michigan governor to Gretchen Whitmer". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  32. ^ Dress, Brad (21 July 2022). "Michigan GOP governor candidate says abortion ban should include cases of rape, incest". The Hill. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  33. ^ Egan, Paul. "Michigan's candidates for governor: Where Gretchen Whitmer and Tudor Dixon stand". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  34. ^ Trump's Gal Tudor Dixon Wants to be Your Gov.-- One on One Lunch with Charlie LeDuff Part 1. Charlie LeDuff. 18 July 2022. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2022 – via YouTube.
  35. ^ Dress, Brad (21 July 2022). "Michigan GOP governor candidate says abortion ban should include cases of rape, incest". The Hill. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  36. ^ Pietsch, Bryan (21 July 2022). "Top GOP governor candidate: Mich. abortion ban should cover rape, incest". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 31 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  37. ^ Langton, Charlie (19 August 2022). "Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon talks about taking on Gretchen Whitmer". FOX 2 Detroit. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  38. ^ Garrity, Kelly (30 August 2023). "Trump advised Tudor Dixon to soften her line on abortion during Michigan governor's race". Politico.
  39. ^ "Dixon was warned by Trump to pivot on abortion messaging; Trump backs 'exceptions'". Detroit News. 30 August 2023. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  40. ^ Oosting, Jonathan; Gibbons, Lauren (13 October 2022). "Michigan governor debate: Fact checking Whitmer-Dixon showdown". Bridge Michigan. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  41. ^ Stebbins, Laina G. (21 October 2022). "Dixon spreads misinformation about COVID-19 vaccine and schools". Michigan Advance. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  42. ^ McPhillips, Deidre (20 October 2022). "Covid-19 vaccines will be on the 2023 vaccine schedule, but that doesn't mean they're required in schools". CNN. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  43. ^ Stebbins, Laina G. (21 October 2022). "Dixon spreads misinformation about COVID-19 vaccine and schools". Michigan Advance. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  44. ^ Reston, Maeve; Judd, Donald (23 October 2022). "GOP candidates seize on decision about Covid-19 vaccines for children as a rallying cry for parental rights". CBS 58 WDJT - Milwaukee. CNN. Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  45. ^ Steck, Em; Alafriz, Olivia (27 October 2022). "Michigan GOP gubernatorial nominee invoked conspiracy claiming Democrats sought to 'topple' US in retaliation for losing Civil War". CNN. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  46. ^ a b Lawler, Emily (11 October 2021). "This gubernatorial candidate's education plan involves changing the Michigan constitution". MLive.com. Archived from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  47. ^ Epstein, Reid J. (2 August 2022). "Tudor Dixon, a conservative commentator, will challenge Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  48. ^ Channel 3, Gabrielle Dawson | News (27 September 2022). "Dixon proposal would bar sexual orientation, gender identity talk with K-3 students". WPBN. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  49. ^ Egan, Paul (20 September 2022). "Tudor Dixon calls for resignation of state's top educator over LGBTQ training video". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  50. ^ a b Hermani, Jordyn (30 June 2022). "Dixon, lawmakers look to ban drag shows from schools despite lack of evidence this occurs". MLive.com. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  51. ^ Neavling, Steve (27 October 2022). "Dixon defended blackface, blasted hijabs on her TV show". michiganadvance. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  52. ^ Neavling, Steve (26 October 2022). "Tudor Dixon amplified racist remarks, conspiracies on her TV show". Detroit Metro Times. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  53. ^ Benen, Steve (28 October 2022). "Why weird conspiracy theories from the GOP's Tudor Dixon matter". MSNBC. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  54. ^ Gomez, Henry (9 August 2022). "Tudor Dixon launches gender-based attack in historic Michigan governor's race". NBC News. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  55. ^ Eggert, David (29 July 2022). "Where Republican candidates for governor stand on economic issues". Crain's Detroit Business. Archived from the original on 5 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  56. ^ Mauger, Craig (27 April 2022). "GOP's Kevin Rinke wants to end Michigan's income tax; plan for budget cuts comes later". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  57. ^ Ruble, Kayla (27 July 2022). "Dixon pushes back on Democrats claiming her tax cut defunds police". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  58. ^ Mauger, Craig (26 July 2022). "Tudor Dixon campaign asks TV stations to 'pull' Dem-backed ad against her". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  59. ^ Mauger, Craig; LeBlanc, Beth (27 July 2022). "Dixon at final GOP debate: Female voters don't want 'bully' as governor". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  60. ^ a b LeBlanc, Beth (6 August 2022). "Dixon targets pandemic policies, inflation burden during CPAC address". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  61. ^ Burnett, Sara (3 August 2022). "Dixon wins Michigan GOP governor primary, to face Whitmer". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  62. ^ Egan, Paul (12 January 2022). "GOP candidate Tudor Dixon calls Whitmer 'Michigan's original insurrectionist' in video". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  63. ^ Egan, Paul (31 July 2022). "Tudor Dixon deflects question on 'stolen election' in Sunday national TV appearance". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  64. ^ Friske, Katheryne (21 July 2022). "On the issues: Election reform". Michigan Radio. Archived from the original on 5 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  65. ^ Schuster, Simon (11 July 2022). "Tudor Dixon walks the tightrope in gubernatorial bid". MLive.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  66. ^ Oosting, Jonathan (29 June 2022). "Drag queens and MAGA: Tudor Dixon fights culture wars in Michigan governor bid". Bridge Michigan. Archived from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  67. ^ Warikoo, Niraj (5 November 2022). "Faith and politics intermingle on the campaign trail in Michigan". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  68. ^ Mauger, Craig. "Michigan governor hopeful Tudor Dixon eaten by zombies in gory horror film". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Michigan
2022 		Most recent
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